EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Aeros Dynamics

Published on June 3, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


TONIGHT'S CONTEST...The Aeros take on the Trenton Thunder (New York Yankees) tonight at 7:05 p.m...This is the first of three games with Trenton, then the Reading Phillies (Philadelphia Phillies) come to town for three games over the weekend...Tonight, LHP CLIFF LEE makes his first "AA" start of the season.

RECENTLY...Akron returns home tonight after a 4-2 road trip through Altoona and Bowie...The Aeros had an off-day yesterday...On Sunday, June 1, they split a regular scoreboard with the Bowie Baysox...In game 1, the Aeros were defeatd 5-2...RHP KYLE DENNEY (6-2) suffered his second loss, giving up five runs (four earned) and six hits in 5.1 IP...C VICTOR VALENCIA blasted two round-trippers, accounting for all of the Aeros runs...In game 2, RHP FERNANDO CABRERA (5-2) got the win, allowing just one earned run in 5.0 innings...RHP RAFAEL BETANCOURT notched his 10th save of the year and 1B ERIC CROZIER blasted his ninth home run, driving in three.

GOODBYE, GOOD LUCK...On Monday, June 2, the Aeros sent 2B MAICER IZTURIS to Triple A Buffalo...In 54 games with the Aeros, Izturis batted .280 (61-218) with 31 R, 11 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI & 14 SB...Taking his place on the roster is 2B JOE INGLETT, who come to the Aeros from Class A Kinston...With Kinston, Inglett hit .329 (28-85) in 28 games with 21 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 15 RBI & 1 SB...Inglett began the year with the Aeros but never played in a game before being sent to Kinston.

LEE INFO...LHP CLIFF LEE makes his first "AA" start of the season tonight...He did make one rehabilitation start at Class A Kinston on May 29 vs. Frederick (4.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO)...He was activated from the Cleveland Indians 60-Day Disabled List on May 30 and optioned to Akron...Lee was placed on the 60-Day Disabled List and missed all of spring training with an abdominal muscle strain.

CONGRATS!...Aeros RHP FERNANDO CABRERA was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 26-June 1...During that span, he was 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO)...Over his last three starts, Cabrera is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

FIRST THINGS FIRST...The Aeros currently hold a 5.0 game lead over second-place Reading in the Eastern League's Southern Division.

PLAYING WELL...The Aeros have won 11 of their last 14 games (.786) and 15 of their last 20 (.750).

DRAWING WELL...Through 24 home dates this season, the Aeros have drawn 155,328 fans to Canal Park for an average of 6,472 per game...Both the total and average attendance marks lead the Eastern League.

WHO'S HOT...INF LUIS GONZALEZ currently has a seven-game hitting streak, over which he is batting .333 (9-27) with 6 R, 1 2B & 1 RBI...SS HECTOR LUNA has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, batting .419 (13-31) with 3 R, 2 RBI & 1 SB over that span...Over his last nine games, CF GRADY SIZEMORE is batting .371 (13-35) with 7 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI & 1 SB...Over his last six games, C VICTOR VALENCIA is batting .476 (10-21) with 5 R, 4 2B, 2 HR & 4 RBI...RHP RAFAEL BETANCOURT is a perfect 10-for-10 in save situations this season and has not allowed an earned run in his last 11 appearances (11.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 21 SO)...RHP FRANCISCO CRUCETA is 4-0 in his last four starts with a 3.24 ERA (25.0 IP, 26 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 9 BB, 21 SO)...RHP KAZUHITO TADANO has not allowed an earned run since joining the Aeros (14.0 IP, 15 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 17 SO).

LEAGUE LEADERS...Despite being promoted to Triple A Buffalo, RHP JEREMY GUTHRIE still qualifies for the Eastern League lead in ERA (1.44), he is tied for the league lead in complete games (2) and shutouts (2) and is tied for second in wins (6)...RHP FERNANDO CABRERA leads the E.L. in strikeouts (61) and is seventh in ERA (2.53)...RHP KYLE DENNEY is tied for second in wins (6), he is tied for third in strikeouts (55) and is sixth in ERA (2.39)...CF GRADY SIZEMORE is tied for second in the E.L. in runs scored (40).

UPCOMING GAMES

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 @ 7:05 P.M.

TRENTON THUNDER vs. AKRON AEROS

RHP JAVIER ORTIZ (4-4, 6.79 ERA) vs. LHP DERRICK VAN DUSEN (4-3, 4.18 ERA)

Promotion: Billy Traber Commemorative Photos (1st 2,000) Sponsored by Busson Digital

& Pre-Game Cow Milking Contest, Sponsored by Reiter Dairy

Also, it's a Discount Day, All Tickets Just $5.00!

THURSDAY, JUNE 5 @ 7:05 P.M.

TRENTON THUNDER vs. AKRON AEROS

RHP CHIEN-MING WANG (4-2, 3.78 ERA) vs. FRANCISCO CRUCETA (4-3, 3.54 ERA)

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Eastern League Stories from June 3, 2003


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